Rainy but warm enough to leave the doors open and air out the house. Possibly the last chance this year . . . Last day of our 37th anniversary sale. Not a big deal, but not bad when one considers the economy. Had expected to sell more boxed Christmas cards at bargain prices but was surprised by the interest in our candles and gift items; you never know . . . Thanks to our neighbor Joe Theurer three people are recipients of our $25 gift certificates. This year's winners as determined by Joe's turn of the cards are Matthew Meehan (a Iraq vet), Deb Ritchey and Councilman Dan Miller . . . Cecilia says: look at all those silly people in their hilarious costumes. They should be fashionable like me in my pumpkin outfit . . . Happy Halloween and welcome to November . . .

Several of you have tried to post comments on this blog and have been faced with the need to establish a Google account before you can do so. Most of you have backed off, which I can easily understand. To make your comments, simply e-mail me (address on the left) and I will add them to the next day's post. It is always nice to know that someone is reading these golden words . . . apparently several black churches are playing fast and loose with the IRS non-profit rules by opening their pulpits to speeches by mayoral candidate Linda Thompson and then endorsing her candidacy. I had not heard of this, but WITF radio did a report on the matter. The link button to the left will lead you to Eric's blog where the program can be accessed . . . These actions may be unethical if not illegal but are not unheard of. My affiliation with organized religion ended in 1959 because of it . . . my hometown (pop. 2000 at the time) had many places of worship but no Catholic Church or Jewish synagogue. The weekend before the presidential election that year members of the local ministerium collectively warned their congregations that a vote for up-start JFK was a vote for Rome; the Pope would be ruling the White House from Day One. Anyone Catholic could not be trusted. I had not attended church for such a hateful message and was especially offended since my best friend was one of the few Catholics in town . . . in the last quarter century the religious establishment has become more of a political forum (abortion, gay rights, etc.) than a place of comfort and hope. I need the old traditional activities that united our neighborhoods and brought us all together . . . I could rattle on about this for quite some time, but enough . . . "Hoppy Halloween" from Judy Robinson's pet rabbit Milagros (a/k/a Millie) . . .

Went trick-or-treating with JJ and Cecilia and am almost too exhausted to write; up hill, down hill, into the make-shift graveyard to feel the brains of a fractured skull. Amazing decorations in his small neighborhood enclave--a real slice of Americana as portrayed by painters of "primitives." And I cannot say enough good things about the youngsters--droves of them--looking out for each other while their parents exchanged local gossip and World Series expectations. Very respectful and with a "thank you" at each house they visited. Most amazing was the fact that the home owners who were away or did not wish to be bothered simply left a huge basket of goodies on the porch and each child helped himself to a piece. Were I to do that on my stoop the goodies--and the basket--would be gone in a flash, pilfered not by children but some eighteen-year-old ghoul. The suburbs are looking better and better to both Bob and me. Jacquie Kirby, are you listening?

Happy birthday to Sarah Battisti . . . Ah, shucks. Thanks to yesterday's Halloween post I have learned that kids can't bob for apples anymore; it is deemed an unclean activity that can spread germs. Don't know how I managed to reach 73. I remember we played with our Easter Eggs until they became so crackled that there was nothing left to do but to eat them . . .

Tom and Diane Neiper (JJ's grandparents) home safely after leading a tour through the Vermont countryside. Leaves were just past their peak Diane reports, but the visit to the Von Trapp Lodge was a highlight . . . A reminder that the big bargain-laden bazaar at Harris Street Church (Harris at Third) is this Saturday. Eileen Young, majordomo, promises lots of good stuff . . . as an old newspaper man I thought today's Pat-News editorial on the mayoral candidates was a sad piece of business. Either the editors endorsed both candidates or neither; it is hard to say. With "reporting" like this it is no surprise that newspapers are failing left and right . . .

My Halloween c. 1943

As a child of the ‘40s my Halloween was confined to one night of pranks . . . Nights were very dark (wartime blackouts) unless there was a moon . . . History says we tipped over outhouses, but I never knew of one being up-ended. We threw shelled corn at windows to frighten the people inside who were huddled around their radios. Some adventurous souls scribbled on windows with a sliver of soap. Trees were bedecked with rolls of toilet paper (a wasteful use of a valuable wartime commodity) . . . But the best prank was exchanging porch furniture and watching the next day as people wandered the neighborhood with a foreign object. “Is this your chair (swing, plant, rug)? No? Do you know whose it is?” . . . Sometimes a group of men would hide in the bushes to protect their property and scare the be-Jesus out of us when we came close. They would give chase and we would scurry for our lives. Being scared instead of scaring was part of the thrill . . . We made all our decorations and costumes. Orange and black construction paper was scarce but we always managed to have a couple of pieces for witches and bats. We carved pumpkins and found short ends of candles which lit them up for at least a couple of minutes. Most of us wore sheets to parties and envied the kids who had “real” costumes—pirates and princesses were popular. Strangely I don’t recall anyone masquerading in military garb; I guess that was too real to us . . . there were parties with both adults and kids in the crowd. Cider and gingerbread were staples, and “bobbing for apples” was the game of choice. (Fruit floating in a washtub that you had to grab with your teeth for you young readers who never tried it; more difficult than you might expect and you always got wet) . . . parades were subdued afternoon affairs and usually consisted of we costumed kids marching around the school a couple of times; if parents could get free from their wartime jobs they would be there to cheer us on . . . the idea of paying ransom in the form of treats to avoid the pranks didn’t take hold until after the war; of course, in my early days there wasn’t any chocolate in the stores anyway. A Hershey bar was the manna of the gods and was adored in its wrapper for a few days before the paper came off and we shared it (very reluctantly) with other members of the household . . .

Bob spent much of the day dismantling the courtyard garden. We moved A LOT of leaves into the street . . . hopefully the neighbors will respect the "No Parking" signs and the street cleaner will get the chance to do his job . . . It is a frightening and moving look at the effects of climate change. A small Alaskan island is being inundated by rising water and the government has yet to prevent the erosion or relocate the native population. The 10-minute film now in a German competition can be seen at http://www.dw-world.de/dw/0,2142,266,00.html. On the left click on Video on Demand and when the page comes up, click on Arts 21. The film begins about 13:45 in if you don't want to see the whole program . . . very unsettling. Disaster is perhaps just months away . . . You have just two or three days before the program changes . . .

Slept late, watched the Steelers win their game. Nothing else. Guess I am beginning to enjoy old age.

Warm and rainy . . . A lot of nice people came shopping today and we thank them all for their support. You still have another week to take advantage of our 15% discount and to sign up for our drawing . . . I am still savoring the memory of JJ and his "monster" cookie. He truly relished it. Of course, we all could have done without his graphic descriptions as he chomped away. "I just bit off the nose and now I am eating his eyes," he said gleefully. Is this a sadistic child a la The Bad Seed? Let's hope not, though he knows that one flash of his impish smile and he can get anything he wants--at least with his Godfathers . . .

I am 73 today as of 7:30 p.m. I am beginning to feel it and it certainly has begun to show . . . There are certain moments, even seconds, in life that are unforgettable and will be with us forever. One such occurred this morning. I answered the doorbell to find a grinning JJ, his arms stacked with boxes. He was so excited and eager to show what he had chosen for my birthday. The boxes contained decorated cupcakes and cookies all of which he had picked out himself. He pointed out the merits of each and was especially taken with a "Frankenstein's Monster" cookie. "I would even like that myself," he said a little sadly, giving away something he would have enjoyed himself. The moment was heart-warming and charming. I said perhaps I would share after school. I guess he thought of it all day. When Daddy Eric picked him up at day care the cookie came immediately into the conversation. He was sure that the cookie was so desirable that Uncle Ronn would have eaten it. What a delight to find that it was still waiting for JJ to claim when he reached The Bare Wall . . . sentimental, perhaps, but so wonderful to see a happy child . . . my post about trees elicited a response from a neighbor facing the probability of removing another tree in our area. I thought I would share it: "I know it's Thursday and I'm responding to Tuesday's blog . . . Much as I love trees, they do invade sewer lines. Little ones, like Lindsey, Guy, and Mike's, will take a generation or so. Others are happening now, and sentimentality doesn't change reality. Since the City of Harrisburg apparently doesn't have arboreal expertise, it behooves the home owner to know just what to plant and where. The growth requirements of shade trees and the growing conditions of city streets are mutually exclusive, to some extent. Something to do with urban planning, perhaps? Or maybe just the fault of the trees! After all, they were used to living in a forest! What do they know about urban culture? It'd be a lot easier if we just lived in Bellevue Park or maybe Camp Hill." . . . My thanks to all who have made my birthday very special this year, especially to Bob who has prepared my favorite dinner . . .

Street still closed, but Judy Robinson from Honey Grove and her Mom managed to get here to wish me a happy birthday. Yvonne Brown from Mechanicsburg managed as well. Traffic disruption is not what I was looking for during our anniversary sale . . . The popular glass earrings by Fred Imhoff of Portland, Ore., have had a slight price increase . . . Halloween excitement seems to be building . . . Politics, too, is heating up . . .

Our History -- An Aside

One December afternoon some years ago a mugging took place just outside the store. I pursued the villain, forgetting that I was wearing the Santa hat I always wear at the holiday season. The police dispatcher must have thought the city had gone crazy. People kept calling in to report the location of “the guy in the Santa hat.” A squad car picked me up in Fox Ridge and we eventually caught up with the perp at Calder Street. The policeman jumped out to pursue on foot and I was going to help until I discovered that, once in the back of a police car, you are locked in until the office lets you out . . . one Sunday afternoon last Christmas two drunks came into the store to do their “shopping;” I spotted the empty shelf right away and demanded whatever the fellow had under his coat. It was a clock which, unfortunately, fell and smashed into pieces. Bob screamed at me not to pursue the crooks, but then he discovered they had made off with his leather jacket and the car keys. After that it was “go get ‘em.” I passed two workmen during the chase and one joined in. We lost our quarry, but were sent back to the store by a policeman for an interview with other cops on the scene. My jaw dropped when the workman said he knew who our thief was, that the fellow had dropped by the work site just a week before looking for work and had given his name. Minutes later the radio crackled; our man had been caught. The coat and the keys were returned pronto and the fellow got a place to warm his toes downtown. In all, seven different officers had taken part . . . and people continually complain that you never can get the police to respond . . .

Street still closed but Lorraine Kleppel navigated the terrain and introduced me to her brother Bruce from Saskatoon, Canada. He also owns a gift shop . . . Janet Day and Tom Leonard will show their Edwards Street home during the Historic Harrisburg candlelight house tour . . . wonderful new potpourri is giving the store a pleasant aroma . . . neat new spoon rests, trivets, cutting boards, utensil crocks and tabletop clocks . . . We all know that parking is at a premium in our neighborhood. We know and accept the fact that more parking permits are sold in our area than there are spaces to accommodate every vehicle. (CAN is currently seeking more spaces.) Generally, we are good neighbors and try to park precisely so that no car hogs two spots. Over time, we have learned that on a portion of Green Street east we can squeeze four cars into the space between parking signs. We have been doing that for years. So why, I wonder, do we recently have tickets being written for "too close to the crosswalk?" Not "in the crosswalk" but "too close to crosswalk." And how close is too close? Is it a judgement call on the part of the officer? Well, the pictured auto was ticketed as "too close" and it is offered here as a warning to other CAN neighbors . . . Arts at 510 at 510 North Third Street is holding a "meet and greet" for mayoral candidate Nevin Mindlin tomorrow evening from 5:10-7:10 p.m . . .

Just what we needed: our anniversary sale is in full swing and utility maintenance crews closed Green Street for the whole day . . . Still, the delivery men were able to find us and we were blessed with three major shipments. More about all the new goods later in the week . . . A grand old sycamore in the 200 block of Briggs Street which was raising the sidewalk was taken down today. (A maple was also sacrificed, but it will be replaced with another tree.) The ugliness resulting from this loss will take some getting used to. The void sadly deteriorates the neighborhood esthetically . . . In the '60s ours was an ugly streetscape devoid of foliage. Our small group of activists (which was to become the nucleus of the Historic Harrisburg Association) involved itself in a lengthy discussion with City Hall; we wanted trees and while we were promised they were on the way they never materialized. Joe Russian of North Street finally got tired of the belly-aching and took it upon himself to acquire and plant trees throughout the area. (Donations from home owners gratefully accepted.) It was Joe more or less who provided the leafy neighborhood we have all enjoyed . . . A few decades later the late Dr. Carolyn Dexter gave funds for yet more greenery. And recently Guy Kehler, Lindsay Mills and Michael Ennis put in new trees in their area of Briggs . . . No need to extol the value of trees here; we are all aware of the benefits they provide . . . Did you know that Harrisburg was once known as "the city of trees?" It had a large department devoted to greenery and even its own nursery! And Capitol Park once boasted at least one specimen of every tree native to Pennsylvania. I doubt that is the case today . . . Dutch Elm disease decimated a lot of trees along Front Street a few years ago, and we are warned that a worm that eats ash trees is on the way. But we are all responsible to some extent. To "sell the view" the new Riverside Apartment condo complex destroyed the lovely trees surrounding it and left a devastated landscape in its wake. And I have already noted the denuding of State Street , , , Perhaps the time has come for some legislation to protect our leafy habitat . . .

Finally, a little sunshine . . . Melissa Herman of Bethesda, Md., in town to visit with friends in the Governor's Office and came by to greet Bob and me. Older readers will remember Melissa (a Millersburg native) as the weather girl on WHP-TV some years ago (I won't say how many, gentleman that I am). She also had an evening talk show on WHP that focused on arts and culture and I was fortunate to be a guest several times. We were always well prepared before airtime, but somehow we could never stick to our agenda. What fun. WHP was really a meaningful asset to Harrisburg back then. The staff, particularly Ron Drake, held our hand through the Agnes crisis, and there was a lot of coverage (for which read "promotion") of the arts back then. Melissa still doing Bargello needlework when she can find supplies . . . "No Parking" signs went up in the 200 block of Briggs Street this afternoon. If you are parked there, better go take a look . . . Not into politics on this blog, but there are several Harrisburg sites that have been burning up the net with an investigation of the mayoral candidates, particularly the Loveship non-profit of Linda Thompson. Eric's blog (link on the left) will lead you to some of the commentary . . .

Slept late. Goofed away the rest of the day. Finished a puzzle. Surfed the football games. Hope your day was a lot more exciting . . .

Cold, rainy, raw. A generally unpleasant day . . . Had a note from Ken in Sunbury acknowledging yesterday's post . . . Learned that Bob and Eileen Young's Herr Street home will be on the house tour . . . Started a new puzzle . . .

Good news! Thanks to Bob who sacrificed his Friday routine all the sale postcards are in the mail. Most of you will receive them tomorrow and the sale is on immediately! . . . Harrisburg made the list of the 55 smartest metropolitan areas in the USA; good news, bad news depending on how you look at it. We placed 50th on the list. The fact that the Pat-News reporter misspelled some words in his report seems to bear out the legitimacy of the survey . . . Another cam stream to bore you with: if you are curious as to what the Susquehanna River is doing upstream go to http://kenguide.camstreams.com/. It will show you the fabric dam at Sunbury . . . I mentioned earlier how nice the fall displays are at houses throughout the city. Bob's front porch is a perfect example . . . Neighbors and passing motorists reportedly foiled a would-be purse snatcher in the Grace Methodist Church parking lot, 241 North Street, at 5:15 this afternoon . . .

Melancholia seems to have gripped everyone; is it the cold rain, general gloom and the knowledge that summer is gone? . . . Finally tried our caramel apple cider; not bad on a chilly day but I think I like the cranapple better . . . Our 37th anniversary sale starts on Monday. You will save 15% on anything not already marked down and we will have our usual drawing for gift certificates. Unfortunately there was a glitch at the printer, so you won't be receiving your sale notice postcard until next week. But no matter, come anyway. The sale is open to everyone, not just our mailing list, so you don't need to bring the card this time . . . This 24-inch solid brass floor candlestick has been here so-o-o-o long that it practically qualifies as an antique. Meant to be sold for $150 and we have marked it down to $75 without any luck. Bob is tired of polishing it. Any offers, however reasonable? (Didn't photograph well; nicer than it looks in the picture.) . . . happy to report that my latest bargain jigsaw had all its pieces . . .

Painters did their work on the house today; the front door especially needed attention. Looks great . . . the fabric order arrived today. Throws, dish towels, sparkling gems for decoration, napkins and place mats; the color palette has changed a shade--if you were collecting a particular color for your table, please come by soon. We still have some of the old colors in stock . . . JJ and I went "to see the bones" in Collette's graveyard this evening. He was so impressed that he ran back to the store and insisted Mom, Cecilia and Uncle Bob come too. He gave them a guided tour of the whole display . . . I've already mentioned my fascination with "streaming cams" on the net. Was surprised to find an active one in a Mt. Gretna back yard. It takes a moment to load http://albertsutcliffe.camstreams.com/ but was a welcome curiosity. Tried to access it later in the day but it was inactive at that time. But give it a try--supposedly the deer roam the area morning and evening . . .

Jerry Oster and his Fresh Look painting crew are working on several neighborhood properties including mine . . . Gloomy day for the most part. Did some ordering on-line. I find that very clumsy no matter how well designed the site is . . . There still is nothing better than a catalog to mull over at leisure. Some of us are old enough to remember Sears' Wish Book; what a treat that was with the promise of the holidays just ahead . . . Now we receive dozens of catalogs, all with the same items at ever-inflating prices . . . I can't imagine a world without books but, alas, I fear their future is in doubt . . . For kids, Halloween just isn't Halloween if you don't carve a pumpkin. But first you have to get beyond that squishy stuff . . .

Columbus Day, overcast and definitely chilly. . . Bob and his niece, Trish, went to a public sale where her dad (Bob's brother) was the auctioneer. Bob came home with a new pitcher. We really, really needed another one (hah) . . . Tyler and Lelia Simmons spent their day off from school helping mom Sharon and Victoria Zellers rake up the leaves. They truly devoted themselves to the work; I rewarded them with packages of cheese crackers, Lelia's favorite . . . the town was empty, but everyone who came by The Bare Wall today bought boxed Christmas cards or tree ornaments. I guess the weather induced a seasonal mood and reminded us that the big holidays aren't all that far away . . .

Lingered in Jon and Larry's kitchen this morning. They were baking sweet tortilla chips, a tasty treat I had never had before . . . Listened to the program for farmers on Welsh radio (a shortage of trained sheep dogs there) and wrote a couple of checks. Ordered potpourri for delivery in two weeks and worked on my jigsaw . . . Bob made me clean up my environment (but helped) . . . finally but reluctantly turned on the heat . . . Productive day but low-key . . .

Julie Vinson of Hatboro in town for a big family do (her son's 30th birthday) at the Maennerchor; also a chance to visit with Mom (Rhea Maff) and sisters Madeline Burridge and Angela Lawson . . . the tree in Wednesday's post was virtually denuded by rains overnight . . . really nice to see all the mums and pumpkins on doorsteps throughout the city . . . Bart and Collette put out some of their Halloween decorations today. JJ will want to "go look at the bones" every time he visits The Bare Wall; it was practically a ritual last year . . . the "beer and pretzel" puzzle featured a few weeks ago will land in unsuspecting hands this weekend; it really is a toughie . . .

I may "do lunch" but I usually don't "do politics." However, we all make exceptions occasionally, and today is my day . . . I was very impressed with the Thursday entry on Eric's blog (see link to the left). It was the first sensible discussion of the mayoralty campaign that I have encountered. We could use a lot more information of this kind from both candidates. Thompson's proclaimed presumption that she is already elected was a major gaffe; we may actually have a contest here . . . My memory may be faulty, but I think that back in the '50s nothing was certain when it came to elections. People were not the sheep they seem to be today; neither were those elected. Proposed laws were in doubt until the actual vote. There were parties of course but not the "block voting" like today that leaves the state without a budget for 100 days . . . And voters also were thinkers, preferring their party candidate but rebelling when a better person emerged on the other side of the ticket . . . Oh, well, we will all have the chance to have our say in November . . . The candidates have been invited to a Town Hall meeting Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Midtown Book Store and Mindlin will have a "meet and greet" session from 7:30-10 p.m. Thursday at the Strawberry Cafe . . .

Alberto Weller came by to add to his video library. We still have about 600 titles to dispose of. Most are in the $2-$4 range . . . Deb Ritchey begins a new job with the city next week . . . Ken Frew's book Building Harrisburg: The Architects and Builders 1719-1941 can be pre-ordered through the Historical Society of Dauphin County for $79.50 tax included. (You can use the web link in yesterday's post to reach them.) There are 416 illustrated pages and there will be a book signing event Thursday, Nov. 5th, at the mansion . . .

Windy day. Audrey Trussell came shopping anyway; plans to try her hand at making hats thanks to our earlier post about the lack of same at churches these days . . . My latest flea market jigsaw puzzle bargain was a bust; three pieces missing . . . Found a neat new post on the Historical Society of Dauphin County website. Curator Stephen Bachmann plans to post regularly a "photo of the week" showing scenes from the county's past. The link below will take you directly to the photos but you may want to stay and explore; you can see interior pictures of the John Harris Mansion, for instance . . . the picture to the right is something of a sham. The green ash tree on Green Street is always a herald of autumn but this year it failed to produce its usual splendor; turned mostly brown and dropped its leaves much too soon. This is how it looked last year . . . http://www.dauphincountyhistory.org/research/photos/weeklyphoto/

Linda Ries from the Pa. Archives popped in for some cards today. We still have autographed copies of her Harrisburg book. $19.95 . . . Ken Frew's book on Harrisburg architecture is due out soon. Will try to get a better citation for you . . . Placed our fabric order for place mats, tea towels, throws, etc. Shipment comes from Seattle, so it will be a week or so before they arrive . . . A flock of birds fluttered and swooped above the store this afternoon. "Looks just like fireworks," JJ declared . . .

Our History – Part Three

The man had already been in twice that day to look at jewelry and he reappeared at closing. He chose two pairs of earrings. Something in his manner made me suspicious and put me on my guard. I took longer than necessary to package his order, hoping someone else would come in. No luck. When I asked for his money he brandished a knife and emptied the till. He headed for the door and I for the phone . . . No one had come in because he had locked the door, but Tom Leonard was waiting and simply thought I had slipped off to the loo for a moment. Tom heard me calling the police and immediately gave chase . . . fortunately for us, there had been several purse-snatchings recently at that hour and there were plain-clothes officers scattered throughout the area; the fellow was caught just a few moments later with the jewelry still on him. Tom was an acclaimed hero . . . at the trial the man claimed he had never been on Green Street and the prosecution could not mention that he had been caught in the act of raping a woman in the parking lot just across from the store. It would have been once and done had not a pregnant juror decided her time had come (it hadn’t) just as deliberations were beginning. So a mistrial was called and we had to do it over again. He got five years . . . And would you believe that several years later he returned with a girlfriend claiming he had earrings on layaway for her and had come to pick them up . . . I dashed for the phone, but the dispatcher refused to send an officer because she didn’t have a “back-up” for him and there hadn’t been an “incident” YET! Luckily, the fellow and his girl left on their own without further confrontation . . . we have been shop-lifted a lot over the years (and have known some culprits but unable to catch them in the act) but nothing as dramatic as this . . . well, there were a few other events worth mentioning . . .

Peter Bower celebrating an anniversary . . . Lynn Clemons back from Big Sky country; loved it and hopes to go back soon for winter sports . . . Ah, the joys of retirement: Dr. Coldren is cleaning his garage . . . The FTC adopted some new guidelines today for those of us who blog. Please be advised that I haven't received any freebies for saying something nice about someone or something (just in case I really have said something nice about someone or something) . . . Reports that two people died on the Market Street bridge this weekend because the offending driver was busy texting is unsettling; we have already experienced something similar (though thankfully not fatal)--you might remember that Bob was t-boned and his car destroyed at Green and Forster by a lady who was allegedly on her cellphone at the time of impact . . . (and I hope you noticed the 'comment' on yesterday's entry) . . .

More than 20 members of Bob's club descended on Harrisburg this weekend. They were welcomed by Dodge City Restaurant, the Brownstone Lounge and Roxy's Cafe. The Bare Wall also shared in their largess. Our thanks to Tom and Jerry from Long Island, Tommy and David from Brooklyn, Phil and Vince from New Jersey, Joe from York, Dan from Needmore and Jon from West Virginia . . . they also demolished all of Bob's apple bread and everyone wants the recipe . . .

Jere Schrom informs me that the Zephyr Express on North Street has closed its doors. He also reported a mugging at gunpoint at 11 p.m. in front of the Grayco Apartments . . . Happy birthday to Brent Lawson, his 39th . . . It is sobering to realize that the kids who used to play on the floor of The Bare Wall now have children of their own. It has been fun watching them grow up and finding their way in life. I can remember a young Colleen MacNett who loved our videos; she planned to work for us as soon as she was old enough. Of course that whim soon evaporated once she was in her teens . . . Bob whipped up some delicious apple bread. He is entertaining members of his men's club this weekend . . . Thanks to all of you who have e-mailed me your appreciation for the store history which I began a few days ago. The saga will continue soon . . .

Was interviewed today by Eric and Amy from the Central Penn Business Journal. They were seeking businessmen's reactions to proposals being put forth by the two mayoralty candidates. I was of little help since I am unfamiliar with Mindlin and Thompsons's plans to strengthen our neighborhoods, possibly at the expense of center city. Currently I view Thompson in an unfavorable light since she has a record on which to make a judgement. But I know nothing of Mindlin so I am waiting to be persuaded . . . Frankly, I don't think the city will ever be the shopping mecca it once was especially if we continue to use our farmland for commerce . . .



Our History – Part Two

Beyond the crafts (on consignment at first) we purchased party paper goods for $500, never realizing how many closets would be needed to store such an amount. And no one bought them, so they and our funds languished . . . then the miracle (divine intervention): Grace Methodist Church planned a spaghetti supper and forgot to order paper napkins. Could we save the day? We sure could! A deal was struck and we had working capital again . . . Crafts sales went well. It was “the Age of Aquarius” and the Hippies and everyone else were going “back to the earth.” Pottery (especially hanging planters), copper jewelry and woodwork were in demand. (So were tie-dyed t-shirts, but we “quality” snobs didn’t offer those.) . . . We made a major investment in needlework goods and were a major supplier of and instructor in needlepoint, rug hooking and cross stitch for the next 15 years. Customers could spend hours undisturbed among the yarns and several did. We intervened only when asked . . . Early one afternoon a neighbor, Betsy Gohl, burst through our door, agitated. “What’s wrong?” she demanded. Then she looked into the back room and said “Never mind” and left. We confronted her later. “There were State Police on your doorstep. I thought you had been robbed,” Betsy said. “But then I saw why they were here.” We were still puzzled. “Don’t you know who was in the needlepoint room?” Yes, it was a nice older lady who came in often and stayed a long time. “THAT,” we were told, “was Muriel Shapp, the Governor’s wife!” And we hadn’t recognized her . . . and thank heavens we didn’t; her secretary later told us how much Muriel liked the store because she was left alone unlike the store owners back home who fussed over her every minute! . . . But we did get robbed eventually; what a hoot that was . . .

Nice visit with Suzi Marsico today. She had a great weekend in Philly recently and went to an art show on Rittenhouse Square. She planned to surprise hubby Ed with a lovely $90 painting--until she discovered there were several more zeros after the 9, three to be exact! . . . Sorry to hear that Jean Pugh passed away, aged 99. She had been a stalwart at Grace Methodist for many years . . .



Our History - Part One



Ronn moved into the first floor apartment at 712 Green Street in August 1963, bought the building in 1969 and moved to the second floor. He was a terrible landlord (or perhaps it was the tenants who were terrible, but that is another story). Ronn’s hobbies were latch hooking and macramé knotting and on a whim he announced he was no longer a landlord: forthwith the space would be a retail outlet specializing in decorations for The Bare Wall. . . That noble idea was short-lived. Ronn was public relations man for the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen and as soon as the store was mentioned craftsmen began offering their wares. Within months the space was a showcase for handicrafts. Wall décor took a back seat. . . Phyllis and Richard Vanier, Robert Rook and the young Pete Wambach and his brother Paul helped get the place up and running. We were to open in June 1972, but Hurricane Agnes quickly put an end to that. So Ronn’s birthday, October 23, was chosen for the official opening. An astrologer friend said it was the period of a “grand trine” which would assure success. I didn’t know what a trine was, but welcomed the ‘success’ part; however, I wasn’t planning to be in the same spot for the next thirty-seven years. . . We launched the place with $2000 borrowed from Commonwealth National Bank and were open four days a week. We used only the front room at the start and added the others as the business expanded. Our first sale was a one dollar bar of soap to the late Ben Benfer who lived across the street. But the $2000 evaporated almost overnight and failure was in sight. It would take a miracle to save us . . .